(Houston) – A Cabool teenager accused of burning and ultimately killing a cat received five years of probation Thursday.
17-year-old Colin Beesler pleaded guilty May 10 to abusing a cat, named Tinkerbell, who was burned alive in June 2011. He was granted a suspended sentence in lieu of probation, including restitution and community service time.
A probable cause statement regarding the case shows Beesler told investigators he held Tinkerbell while a co-defendant, 17-year-old Dalton Harrison, sprayed lighter fluid on her and then set her on the ground before Harrison lit the fire.
Tinkerbell died after she was unable to fight off massive infection resulting from her burn injuries and subsequent extensive skin loss.
Harrison’s case is pending in Howell County on a change of venue. He entered a guilty plea on June 1, and a report is pending from probation and parole before the August 3 sentencing.